The Russian Embassy in Yerevan reported the evacuation of another 164 employees of the Rosatom State Corporation from the Iranian Bushehr NPP. On March 27, 2026, they crossed the Iranian-Armenian border through the Nurduz-Agarak checkpoint and flew from the Armenian capital to Moscow on a special flight. Citizens of Belarus, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan were evacuated along with the Russians. The evacuation is being carried out against the backdrop of regular strikes in the area of the nuclear power plant: since February 28, the United States and Israel have been striking targets on Iranian territory, and several times ammunition has hit the NPP site. According to the IAEA, the station itself was not damaged, and no personnel were injured.
Scale of evacuation from Bushehr NPP
The evacuation of Rosatom employees from the Bushehr NPP began on February 28 - the day the US and Israel launched an operation against Iran. The first wave evacuated 94 people (employees' children, "excess" personnel, and everyone who wanted to leave). Another 150 people were evacuated on March 11.
On March 25, according to the head of the state corporation Alexei Likhachev, 163 employees left for the border, and on March 27 - another 164. In total, at least 571 people have left the station since February.
Several dozen specialists necessary for the safety of the site and subsequent restart of work will remain directly at the nuclear power plant.
US and Israeli strikes on Iran's security infrastructure
The reason for the evacuation was repeated hits in the area of the nuclear power plant. On March 17, a hit was recorded on the territory of the metrological service in the immediate vicinity of the operating power unit. On March 24, ammunition fell on the territory of the station itself - there were no damage or casualties. On March 26 at 21:00 Moscow time, a strike hit the area of the pumping station - an element of the security infrastructure.
Bushehr NPP and Rosatom's role
Bushehr is the only operating nuclear power plant in Iran, located in the south of the country. The first power unit was completed with the participation of the Russian side and connected to the grid in September 2011. The construction of the second stage (two power units) has been suspended due to hostilities. Rosatom provides operation of the station and training of Iranian personnel. Against the backdrop of escalation, the state corporation is carrying out a planned rotation with the removal of everyone who is not involved in critical work.
For Rosatom, the evacuation from the Bushehr NPP is the largest operation to remove personnel from the combat zone since the station was launched. Regular strikes on nuclear infrastructure facilities create unprecedented risks.